Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Will Eisner Blog Response

Selected quotes from the Forward of Eisner's book:

This work (Eisner's book) is intended to consider and examine the unique aesthetics of sequential art as a means of creative expression, a distinct discipline, an art and literary form that deals with the arrangement of pictures or images and words to narrate a story or dramatize an idea. It is interesting to note that sequential art has only fairly recently emerged as a discernible discipline alongside filmmaking, to which it is truly a frontrunner. 

Comics have undoubtedly enjoyed wide popularity worldwide. However, for reasons having much to do with usage, subject matter and perceived audience, sequential art was for many decades generally ignored as a form worthy of scholarly discussion.  While each of the major integral elements, such as design, drawing and caricature and writing, have separately found academic consideration, this unique combination to a long time to find a place in the literary, art and comparative literature curriculums.  I believe that the reason for slow critical acceptance sat as much on the shoulders of the practitioners as the critics.  

Questions for Blog Response:
As a reader, engaging with Eisner's chapters:
(1) What surprises you?  

(2) What challenges you?

(3) What frustrates you?

(4) What do you appreciate?

16 comments:

  1. 1. To be totally honest, what surprised me about Will Eisner's book was how much thought and work actually goes into creating a graphic novel. Each little piece has to be so well thought out and created in a way that allows it to fit perfectly with the rest of the pieces, creating a story that engages and flows. For instance, the chapter on timing really intrigued me. I had no idea that "timing" was an issue that was even considered when creating a graphic novel, yet Eisner says that it is "a dimension integral to sequential art". The descriptions of the ways in which time is framed was so interesting and I found myself really paying more attention to that and better understanding its affect when reading my graphic novel.

    2. I felt challenged many times when reading this book. At times I felt that it was very technical and that I wasn't completely following. On the other hand, my eyes were opened to so many different aspects of sequential art that learning about those things made those more difficult parts of the readinng bearable.

    3. I think what frusterates me are two things: one is that I have never really been exposed to graphic novels before because I think they are amazing and the second is that even though it is a growing form of literature, I still feel like there isn't that broad of a range of graphic novels out there. I went to Barnes and Noble to find my individual graphic novel, and although I did find one that I was very happy with, I was frustrated as I browsed the section and found mostly violent books. I know that this is not always the case, but I do realize that a great deal of graphic novels are of the more violent genre. I am looking forward to seeing the other genres emerge within the graphic novel category as they become more and more popular.

    4. I appreciate all of the aspects of sequential art that this book addresses because what I found was that being aware of the way in which the author or artist expresses their intentions made the story make more sense and become more meaningful to me. For instance, understanding that the way in which frames are crafted has meaning makes it more fun as a reader as you can recognize these aspects while reading. I also really liked that this book gave me an appreciation for an entirely new form of literature. To be honest I have never really given sequential art a second thought. I was an English major in college and even spent a year and a half working at a literary agency. One of the agents did a little bit of work with graphic novels, but I never really got excited about them because I never really understood them. Thanks to this book that has changed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. I too was surprised as to the level of involvement needed to create a graphic novel. I had no idea about how such small choices in the creation of the story could impact the outcome. Little things like timing and facial expression can alter how we interpret the story. It was really interesting to look at certain parts of the novel where Eisner showed how an alternative way of drawing a panel would completely change the meaning of that portion of the story. I had no idea the number of decisions and choices needed to produce the final product.

    2. What challenges me right now is the novelty of the genre. In reading Eisner's book as well as my independent graphic novel, I'm uncertain as to how to properly "read" the novel. I feel like sometimes I might miss out if I choose to read one panel before another. I also want to fully understand the story so I have a tendency to try and read all the signs and words in the background of certain panels. I realize that this is probably unnecessary, but right now I want to get everything I can out of the story. I feel that in time and with more exposure to graphic novels I will be able to pick up some tricks of the trade in the actual reading of the novel.

    3. Like Katherine, I too am a little bit turned off by the "graphic" nature of these novels. Even before this course, I had heard how graphic novels were extremely helpful to English language learners. My co-workers Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey have written a book called Teaching Visual Literacy where they look at how graphic novels can be used as teaching tools. There is so much potential in the genre, and yet I feel that the violent nature of the stories themselves would be a deterrent for me as a teacher to use certain graphic novels for instruction. I really hope there is a transition to more books like Caroline or even the part of the Eisner book where the character acts out Hamlet on a rooftop. This way, we could use the graphic novel to teach literacy and not have to worry about the risque content for our students.

    4. Overall, I have an appreciation for the art form as a whole. If you had asked me how a graphic novel was created, I would have told you that some guy sits in an office and draws it with dialogue bubbles. I had no idea how much time, effort, and creativity go into the creation of the graphic novel. The writer and illustrator must work together and even the smallest details must be discussed and determined so that the novel does not lose its meaning. Characters must be developed and a story world must be created that immerses the reader. There are so many subtle things that go into the creation of a graphic novel and after having read Eisner I have a new-found appreciation for everyone involved with that art form.

    ReplyDelete
  3. (1) I think the most surprising thing about Eisner’s chapters is the sheer volume of forethought that goes into the creation of a comic book or graphic novel. I have to admit that before reading this book I had naively assumed that the process from idea to completed work was less about critical thought and a good knowledge of the audience than just an abstract creative storm. Framing, gesture, dialogue, story purity, allowing the audience to “hear” what’s going on, the process is so much more involved and conducive to the study of literature than I would have imagined.
    (2) The book has challenged my ideas about the literary value of sequential art. The section in which Eisner applies sequential art and a nontraditional character to the dialogue from Hamlet shows how students can use this genre to make leaps to classical literature and other genres.

    (3) Right now, the thing that frustrates me the most is my own ignorance. I know that comic books have been around for a very long time and that graphic novels (in my opinion the more optimal teaching tool) have been around for a shorter period of time, however, I feel like I should know more about them now than I do. For the first time this semester USD is teaching an English class on graphic novels, and I feel as though that’s a step in the right direction for legitimizing and really helpful and exciting genre of literature.

    (4) I appreciate the amount of work that goes into the creation of a graphic novel in a way that I never have before. I’m floored by the amount of thought and framing that goes into a single frame let alone an entire panel. I appreciate Eisner’s obvious sense of the importance of literature, and the way that he incorporates fine writing into exquisite artistry. Most importantly I have a deeper sense of appreciation for the entire graphic novel genre.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1. I like comic books but I haven’t noticed that so many elements such as even timing and frame were integrated in completion of one comic book. When I look at the drawing or pictures in this comics and sequential art with explanation, every illustration and elements have special effect and meaning in the context. What an eye opening moment it is! Usually when I read the comic books, I just followed the story line quickly, because I wanted to know the end of the story whether it is what I guessed or not. However, as I read detailed explanations with this book, I could see both story and the intention of the author as well. It was interesting to see those special effects such as with frame and without frame. Also, in comics, thousands of different gestures and postures with one sentence ‘I’m sorry’ can be described in the context. It is amazing for me.

    2. When I read the part the Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy of Hamlet in this book, it was fresh to me. The graphic novel also can illustrate the literature with the same content like the traditional literature presented. For me it seems like to see the play in the comic books. It was very vivid and realistic because I could see also the actor’s gesture while I read through the story line. So I have never thought about the mixture of comic books with the literature in this way.

    3. The challenging part in reading comic books is that all the text was written in forms of capital letters. Most of thinking and dialogs in balloons are capital letter. I don’t know why it should be capital letter in comics. But when I used to read capital letter, it doesn’t really matter. Another challenging part for me is reading the text with speed. For example, if the sentences are too long, I found myself just scanning or skimming the story. I guess it’s because I can understand the context or the story with the illustrations, without depending on reading the text thoroughly. I don’t know if this is the jus my case or other people also do like me.

    4. In the perspective of English language teacher, I found this graphic novel is quite beneficial to learners. First, students who like to read comics but don’t like to study English, for them, this is a really good learning material I think. Second, the written English is not too long, so for reading comprehension, it is quite good. Third, for students who read the book, but usually don’t’ finish the book in the end, it is quite helpful. Because it will give them satisfaction with the idea of ‘accomplishment’ or “I’ve finished the book.” Finally, if the teacher chooses educational comics, it will allow students to think and analyze the consequences after all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. I have never realized that cartoonists put so much effort to think through every detail aspect to creat one single page to tell us their story. Even one fine line has a purpose to show the emotion of a character. Certainly, graphic art has every component to be a great form of literacy.

    2. Once I get to know "grammar" of sequential art, I have a tendency to see everything on a page to interpret words and images all the time. I thought I am used to read sequential art since I have grown up with it; however, the more I learned the art of graphic storytelling the more aspects I tend to analyze to appreciate the beauty of it. It takes longer for me to read comics to understand all the meanings ever before.

    3. I don't get frustrated by learning or reading graphic novels. As I said earlier it has been a big part of reading when I was growing up. Graphic novels are used as a purpose of entertainment as well as education where I come from. The best example of the educational use was the graphic novel to teach world history by a history professor and a famous catoonist from Korea. These books became the best seller and almost every K-12 student read to enjoy world history. I never knew learning history can be fun until reading those comic books. It was an excellent way to teach something really boring.

    4. It seems easy to read graphic novels instead of the text books. On the other hand, the same content can be written in both graphic novel and text book. Sice any form of literacy can be used to teach subject matters as long as the students can enjoy the process of learning, graphic art is a great way to draw the attention from the students. It is a effective tool to incorporate tough subjects to comprehend into easy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. Similar to Katherine and Aimee’s reflections, I was pretty surprised by the level of planning and structural design considerations that go into making a graphic novel. Prior to reading Eisner, I had no idea of the different elements like timing, panel composition, framing, expressive anatomy, and speech that go into the creation of a work of sequential art. The sheer amount of information contained in the 145 pages of this text is staggering. Reading it was great, though, because it allowed me to begin to inform myself of the considerations that do go into planning and creating a comic. Working through the surprise that we have about certain things is important. Once you get past the surprise, you can start to appreciate something like comics from a more informed and knowledgeable perspective.

    2. Eisner’s work challenged my notions of what constitutes a work of literature. When I was younger, I feel that a large number of people viewed comic books as “fun” reading, and many people didn’t consider them to be works of authentic literary value. This idea was not one that I feel I created on my own, but something that was instilled in me by the views and notions that society holds about graphic art and its place in the world of literature.

    3. What frustrates me at this point is my still-basic knowledge regarding the genre. I feel I have some grasp on the usefulness of graphic novels, especially in relation to their potential to enticing the reluctant or struggling reader to read. Although some content of these works can be questionable, I can absolutely see how these novels could play a useful role in the classroom. I just wish that I could snap my fingers to know more about them, so that I would feel proficient and confident in suggesting them to my students to read to develop their English fluency and reading comprehension skills. Perhaps I will grow in my confidence and knowledge more after we have our graphic novel roundtable discussions in December.

    4. I appreciate the work that Eisner put into the creation of this text, especially his suggestions for how graphic novels can be used in the classroom. Working with English language learners, I often see students struggle with visualizing the action in a story. The very nature of a graphic novel can be helpful in assisting the developing reader with this very task of visualizing the action, and I can see the direct benefits that including these types of works in a curriculum would have for ELs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1.) The one thing that surprises me the most is that a person can analyze every little bit of the art and really truly understand why the 'artisit' chose the font tye, or the timing of the frame. I was shocked by all of the work and effort it takes to make a comic. The only exposure that I had previously with comics was in the Sunday paper. Also, the only way I knew to evaluate how good they were was if they had made me laugh. After reading the book by Eisner, I realize how simplistic my view of comics and sequential art truly is. I am almost embarressed to have grown up in a household with older brothers who were fanatic comic book colllectors (with many orignials) and not understand the true value of one.

    2.) The biggest challenge for me is that I don't feel like I really know how to read a comic. Sure I can follow the frames and read the speech bubbles, but I don't know if they are always meant to be read in the order. I am left with questions like, "Am I suppose to read the speech bubble first, or the thought bubble?" "Should I read the signs on the background of the frame or the speech bubbles first?" I almost feel like I am focusing to much on how to read the comic that I am losing the authenticity of actually reading it.

    3.)The greatest thing that furstrates me is that even after reading Eisners book I still feel that comic books are viewed as fun reading. I also feel that society as a whole views comic books as just a mindless activity to do. If I did decide to us comis and sequential art in my classroom how could I convince others (especially the administration) that I was giving the students something of substance to read. I too found that many of the graphic novels avaliable for students to read are a bit violent. Maybe since I am a newbie to this genre I didn't really know what to look for, do you have any sugestions? All in all, my furstration with how to validate my choice for using such types of literature comes from my ignorance of not knowing enough.

    4.)I appreciate Eisner writing this book. I feel that even though I still don't know a lot about comics and sequential art, I have now been introduced to it. I felt that some chapters were a bit technical, but if I took it upon myself to research I am sure I would gain a better understanding of what Eisner was saying. I am also starting to find an appreciation for comics and their role in my life. Reading the chapter on imagery convinced me to go back and reread parts of my graphic novel. I wanted to see if I felt anything different when I read it with a different lens on. I am excited to share our experiences with our graphic novels.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. What surprised me the most was that the artist and writer were not the same person. I always assumed they were, but perhaps that's just for simpler comics, not graphic novels? I had never considered the writing to be such an artform in itself, but as I think about it now, it's just as integral to the story as are the visuals. You could use the same visuals and different dialogue/narration and make a completely different story. The question over authorship is also interesting...when the publisher is finished with the pages, who do they get returned to? Do the writer and artist play an equal part or is one merely supporting the other? These are questions I hadn't thought about.

    2. In reading Eisner, I had to critically examine something I had either never heard of (graphic novels) or had little exposure to or interest in (comics). This was challenging for me especially because he discussed the various elements and meanings in depth and showed many different, long examples to illustrate his points. The concepts that go into sequential art such as facial expressions, timing, sequence, gestures, are all things we're so familiar with just from being a part of the world, but we don't often examine them. To break them down here, as Eisner did, and try to understand them is harder than it sounds.

    3. What frustrated me with Eisner was thoroughly looking at/reading the examples he provided. Many of them were very visually "noisy" for me and I only wanted to examine the ones which were more simple. I also had a difficult time reading them the correct way. I wasn't always sure I was reading them in the right direction and looking at the correct panels at the correct times. I also had a hard time engaging with all the examples he provided. I found myself almost unwilling to look at some of the stories because they weren't being told from the beginning, even though these particular excerpts were being shown to illustrate a point. Maybe this relates to my absolute refusal to start watching a movie I come across on tv if it's not just starting? :)

    4. I appreciate all the hard work and thought that go into making sequential art. I definitely see their intellectual and artistic value and I'm happy that they're being recognized for such. I think their beauty lies in the fact that they're both simple and incredibly complex and the reader has to pull from a wide variety of experiences and knowledge to appreciate them. I can see them being useful in elementary school up through adult education and they're great for those learning English. I think they're also a timely tool in the classroom because of their fusion of text and images, which today's learners are often very comfortable with.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 1. I am surprised by the depth and intricacies of the art form. I did not realize how sophisticated comics and graphic novels could be. There are numerous elements which affect my understanding of the story, such as the types of frames employed, the perspective of the “shot”, and how the text is lettered. We are manipulated by many more aspects of comics than I was aware of. I am surprised that I could have read comics all these years without realizing the type of common literacy that I had acquired in order to interpret them.
    2. I am challenged by the multiplicity of input. There is so much going on that it can be hard to make sense of everything.
    I am also challenged by the concept that comics and graphic novels are a serious form of literacy. As a child, I read comic books such as, “Casper the Friendly Ghost” and “The Archie Comics”. My mother would have blanched if she thought they would be considered to be a form of literacy. After reading Will Eisner’s book, I have a greater appreciation for the amount of work it takes to create a comic, as well as for the idea that graphic novels and comics are indeed a form of literacy and have a place in school curricula and in our libraries. There is a further challenge as I mull over how to use some comic book techniques in my classroom, both as a form of writing for the students and as a resource for teaching reading and language.

    3. I am at times a bit frustrated by the pictures. Some of them are disturbing to me, and they don’t always match the image in my head. Also, I sometimes have to look deeply into the picture to make sense of the story. The visuals can be very busy. This is similar to the experience I have had when reading a difficult book which can require that I re-read a passage two or three times before I fully understand it.

    4. I appreciate the multiple levels of planning that are needed to create a comic or a graphic novel. The author needs to write the story; decide on the types of lay-outs that will used; plan how the story will be drawn. These are just a few of the elements that need to be considered in order to best get the intended message across. It is fascinating that there are so many ways to influence the reader and to guide his or her interpretation of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  10. (1) I was surprised by how deep and thought out sequential art can truly be. Graphic novel novices, such as myself, at first do not realize just how much work goes into creating a cohesive comic/graphic novel. I was also very surprised about the messages that are behind the graphic novels. They aren't just sequential art stories. They are deep, intricate, and insightful. Some graphic novels are more challenging than others, but all attempt to share a story. As with my peers, I had no idea about the strategies used to assist readers pick up the meaning of the story being portrayed by the graphic novels.

    2. What challenges me is the depth that Eisner goes into about each element involved in creating a graphic novel. Having little prior knowledge about graphic novels/comics, I had difficulty following his discussion/examples of the elements and their importance. There seems to be so much going on at once in sequential art at times that I find it hard to follow along with since I am not a seasoned graphic novel reader yet.

    3. What frustrates me the most, is that I have NEVER been exposed to graphic novels until this class. My former students used to talk about them occasionally but I literally had no idea what they were talking about. In regards to the Eisner readings, I was most frustrated with his examples and their lack of cohesiveness. What I appreciate most about the graphic novels I have been exposed to thus far is the simplicity of the graphics and text and the deep meanings behind them. However, with Eisner's examples, I became confused and had a hard time focusing on what I was reading because the graphics were too intricate. I ended up skipping over some of the examples because I was frustrated with not being able to understand them.

    4. I truly appreciate the deeper meanings that are hidden behind the graphic novels. A younger audience can read them and appreciate them still without taking away the deeper message, but the experienced reader can interpret them differently. I like how sequential art can hit different demographics in various ways.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely the biggest surprise in reading Eisner’s book, as well as Coraline, has been my enjoyment of the genre. Having never read a graphic novel (or a comic), I did not anticipate taking so much pleasure in learning about sequential art and reading a graphic novel. As many students have said, the complexity of the art and the careful consideration that goes into creating such art is mind-blowing. Eisner’s descriptions of the principles behind sequential storytelling are quite comprehensive.

    My greatest challenge has been taking the knowledge I am gaining from Eisner’s chapters and attempting to read Coraline and the graphic novel I chose in a manner different than I would a novel. When I first started reading Coraline, I felt myself simply reading the words and skimming the illustrations. After I read Eisner’s text, I slowed down the pace of my reading and appreciated more the complexity of the graphic novel. Eisner states, “The reading of a graphic novel is an act of both aesthetic perception and intellectual pursuit.” I am challenging myself to read the graphic novel in the way in which it is intended to be read.

    My main source of frustration has come from the fact that I have not been exposed to this type of text. There is a lot of information in Eisner’s book, and I am trying to focus on aspects that will most help me analyze and appreciate graphic novels in the future. Thinking about our graphic novel assignment, I am attempting to concentrate on principles that I believe will allow me to better “intellectually pursue” the author’s message.

    Reading Eisner’s book has made me appreciate a new genre of literature. I realize how appealing these visual texts can be for readers of all ages. Before learning about comics, the Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants books seemed silly to me, and now I see the value in allowing students to explore comics as a “valid form of reading.” I appreciated being exposed to comics and sequential art through this text.

    ReplyDelete
  12. (1) What surprised me most while reading Eisner’s book is the amount of detail that cartoonists include in their works, and how those details influence the reading process for their audience. I had no idea that the shape of a frame or panel could depict the space that the author was trying to convey. I didn’t realize that even the minute details like the dripping of a faucet could convey the passage of time. I was surprised by the amount of thought that goes into creating sequential art.

    (2) While reading some of the excerpts from comics that are included in the chapters, I struggled with trying to follow along with the story. I don’t know if it is just because I haven’t read comics or graphic novels (other than Coraline, of course) in a very long time, so the orientation of the frames on the pages would confuse me. It was easy for me to understand what Eisner was trying to tell us about creating sequential art because each figure or excerpt contained explanations about their significance; but if I were to try to analyze all of the details in a graphic novel by myself, it would be quite a challenge.

    (3) The thing that frustrates me the most is that these cartoonists are creating works of art that are highly underappreciated. Nobody realizes how much thought and effort it takes to create comics, so the artists never get the recognition they deserve. It also frustrates me that teachers don’t really encourage their students to read comics or graphic novels because these stories tend to have a great way of teaching students a specific lesson or a moral that may be more effective than traditional texts.

    (4) I appreciate the fact that Will Eisner actually wrote this book to explain the intricacies of creating sequential art. I also appreciate that he chose comics by other cartoonists to further explain his points, because some of them were easier to keep up with than his own! I also appreciate Christine for making us read this book and teaching us that sequential art does have a place in the classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1. I am so surprised that the author compares the Chinese characters and imagines appeared in the panel. Thousands of years ago, we truly painted what we saw on the caves or walls in order to tell other people what we experienced. However, Chinese scholars haven’t done the comics books research in this area. Because they didn’t think comic’s book would become the cultural mainstream.
    2. As a Chinese,( the author already award me in the chapter2), I am trying to understand the meaning behind each panel that the author present. I want to get better understanding than other students. I try to analysis every picture from different angles. Sometimes I convince myself those pictures are settings in a movie.
    3. What frustrates me is that we haven’t considered the comic’s book as an important way of literacy to teach adults. This is the basis in the society. I still remember that my mom throwing out my comic’s book after I enter in middle school.
    In Chapter 5, facial expressions will be understood differently with adding vocabulary. Hence, after we see a picture, we should make a decision with thinking it through because imagines might lie to us, no matter in real life or in comic’s books.
    4. I appreciate that author’s research reminds me of Japanese comic’s books. I heard that Japanese comic’s book experts call the people ”Kidult.” Because they are already mature but still like to read comic’s books.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 1. What surprised me about comic books was how graphic some of the pictures are. I think even at some points that I was so distracted by the pictures that I wasn’t really reading the words. Also, it surprised me how much work goes into writing and illustrating a graphic novel. The author must focus on far more aspects than simply content and simple illustrations and move into areas such as reader perspective, how to portray thoughts vs. shouts vs. whispers, etc.
    2. I was very challenged by reading the comics in Eisner’s books. Many of them were so busy or graphic that I was totally distracted from the actual content. My eyes would search the picture, and once I had interpreted what was actually going on in the picture, I didn’t feel like reading the words. I also found that if there were too many words in the bubble, I wouldn’t take the time to read them. I think this is because as a society, we have grown up with the assumption that comics, or graphic novels, are purely entertainment. Therefore, when presented with one that requires cognition and attention, I simply don’t feel like dedicating energy to it. Finally, a few times in Eisner as well as Coraline, I would mess up the correct reading order or look over a small frame. Usually they are the frames that are smaller in size and are kind of like a transition from one scene to another.
    3. I was most frustrated by how busy some of the comics were. I liked Coraline because, for the most part, the frames and illustrations were pretty simple. The focus seemed to be mostly on the character’s thoughts, words, or expression. However, some of the comics in Eisner had so many things going on in one frame that I got tired trying to discern who was who or what was going on. I guess I enjoy reading the action more than seeing it. I think sometimes my mind’s picture of what should be going along with the words was competing with what the illustrator had provided, and it frustrated the reading process and overloaded my senses. I grew up reading old Peanuts comic books that my dad had saved, and I guess I’m just used to a fairly simple comic.
    4. I appreciated how much work goes into graphic novels. They really are like movies on paper, and there are so many aspects for the author to focus on besides simply writing. For example, I had never even thought about the fact that a different font could convey such different emotions or ideas and how the author must always be mindful of the reader’s perspective and how that will change the story. Additionally, the human face is a difficult thing to draw on its own, but then to draw the same face over and over expressing hundreds of different emotions would be so challenging. I am beginning to understand why graphic novels are so much more expensive…

    ReplyDelete
  15. 1. Something that immediately surprised me was in the letters as images section in Chapter 2. I found it interesting how some pictures in comics stem from symbols, letters, and pictographs. So even when I’m looking at a picture and can see that what is happening, there is an even deeper underlying meaning/message. The example of the Chinese and Egyptian symbol of worship translated to a man worshiping on page 8 and 9 really impressed me and made me have a greater appreciation for comics.
    2. At times, reading some of the comics challenged me. The manner in which some of them were presented was hard for me to follow (Specifically The Spirit pgs. 95- 97 and the large comic picture on page 145) . I felt like my eyes were jumping from picture to picture, which distracted me from the content of the story. When there were a lot of speech bubbles, it was initially difficult for me to figure out which one to read first. I found that more then three boxes on a row or line were hard for me to read. I think that the more graphic novels I read, the more comfortable I will become with
    3. I’m frustrated that this is my first time ever reading or learning about comics. I’m also frustrated that I had such an altered impression of comics and what they entailed. I always thought of them more as a magazine with no real depth. I now know that idea is so far from the truth! I would love to use comics in my book clubs and reading groups! I wish I had more formal instruction or information on how I could successfully implement them during guided reading and inspire other teachers to do so as well!
    4. As I mentioned in question one, I really appreciate the thought and effort that goes into creating comics. I never knew how much time when into constructing something like the gestures or body placement of a figure. After reading Coraline and Eisner’s book, I have a much greater appreciation and understanding of comic books!

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1. I was very surprised to see just how much goes into creating a graphic novel. I never realized how important timing is in a graphic novel and how to show it through pictures. I was really fascinated by this concept!

    2. I thought this book, at times, was a little challenging to follow. I had to go back and reread several times. I think this was because I was not familiar with this genre and have not read very many comic books or graphic novels.

    3. I was a little frustrated because I was not able to follow all of the little graphic novels. This was both challenging and frustrating. I would get lost and have to try and figure out what was going on. I have only read one other graphic novel besides Coraline and I found it much simpler and easy to follow.

    4. I appreciated the examples at the end of each chapter. It was interesting to read the short comics at the end with a new perspective each time. I really focused my attention based on what the chapter was about. I also appreciate the people who create graphic novels. There is so much time and thought that goes into making them. In addition, I appreciate how comics allow the reader to see so many images at one time...Eisner notes that this is a capability that films lack.

    ReplyDelete